References

Non-technical literature on fossil mammals

Since I know of no (semi-)popular publications that deal
especially with Paleocene mammals, I can only provide some
recommendations for fossil mammals in general. The books below
all aim at adult readers.

Benton, M. J. 1991: The rise of the mammals. Eagle
Editions.

This should be the most recent semipopular overview of the
history of mammals. Contains many nice drawings of extinct
mammals and photographs of their fossils.

Probably the most comprehensive non-technical book on fossil
mammals that was published in the last two decades. Besides many
excellent restorations, there are numerous line drawings of
fossils, so it looks a little like a popular edition of the
chapters on mammals in Carrol (1988).

Kurtén, B. 1971: The age of mammals.
Columbia University Press, New York.

Although a little outdated, this books still
gives a very good overview of mammal evolution in the Cenozoic,
including a long chapter on the Paleocene. Drawings and plates
are present, but the focus is clearly on the text.

A great summary of Cenozoic mammal evolution in
Europe, richly illustrated in the style of "The Big Cats and
Their Fossil Relatives". Although the text does not go into
too much technical detail, it still aims at more serious students
of the subject. The chapter on the Paleocene is up-to-date and
quite detailed, and some of its unique restorations might soon
appear on this site.

Flannery, T. 2001: The Eternal
Frontier. An Ecological History of North America and Its Peoples.
Atlantic Monthly Press, New York.

In a continuous flow, the author narrates how
North America, its flora, fauna and finally its people changed
from 65 million years ago to the 20th century. "The Eternal
Frontier" is a vivid synthesis of results from different
disciplines like geology, botany, zoology, anthropology and
history. This is also the strength of the chapters on the K/T
boundary and the Paleocene, although mammals are not treated in
too much detail and there are some errors like calling Procerberus
a hoofed mammal. Besides a few colour plates, there are hardly
any illustrations.

Simpson, G. G. 1980: Splendid isolation, the curious
history of South American mammals. Yale University Press, New
Haven.

This book tells in remarkable detail how the South American
mammal fauna changed over time. Although recent discoveries for
the early Tertiary have changed some of the conclusions, looking
for this classical work in your local library is still
worth-while.

Two more recent books on the famous Messel fauna from the
Eocene of Germany. The first one discusses more in detail the
groups of fossil animals found at Messel, the second one puts
more emphasis on the visual presentation of the magnificient
fossils.

A richly illustrated book on late Cenozoic mammals and other
vertebrates found in Queensland, Australia. The only direct link
to early Tertiary mammals is a short reference to the Murgon
fauna, which is probably early Eocene. Yet this book stimulates
your imagination how the Australian mammal fauna might have
looked like at earlier times ...

Although about fossil vertebrates in general,
this book contains an extensive section on fossil mammals, with
life restorations of many less widely known genera.

Kurtén, B. 1988: Before the indians.
Columbia University Press.

A beautifully illustrated and very readable
overview of North America's vertebrate fauna just before and
during the Ice Age.

Technical literature on Paleocene mammals

Williamson, T. E.1996: The Beginning of the Age of
Mammals in the San Juan Basin, New Mexico: Biostratigraphy and
Evolution of Paleocene Mammals of the Nacimiento Formation. New
Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Bulletin 8, p.
1-140.

An up-to-date overview of early and middle Paleocene therian
mammals from the famous San Juan Basin, as well as faunal lists
for many other North American localities.

Rose, K. D. 1981: The Clarkforkian land-mammal age and
mammalian faunal composition across the Paleocene-Eocene
boundary. University of Michigan, Papers on Paleontology, v. 26,
p. 1-197.

A good starting point for exploring the North American later
Paleocene, even if the conclusions about the Paleocene/Eocene
boundary are outdated. Contains many annotated faunal lists for
middle and late Paleocene localities.

The most up-to-date overview of North American Tertiary
mammals. Morphological features, systematics, biology and
evolution are discussed for each group. Occurrences are coded
with a unified locality list. I'm looking forward to volume 2.